Beijing Capital International Airport is China's busier capital gateway, spanning 1,480 hectares in Chaoyang and Shunyi, 32 km northeast of downtown Beijing. First opened in 1958, the state-operated hub underwent major expansions in 1999 and 2008 to dramatically boost passenger capacity, temporarily becoming the largest airport complex in the world.
The airport is structured across three terminals. Terminal 2 houses Hainan Airlines and SkyTeam carriers, along with select Oneworld airlines. Terminal 3—a massive complex featuring distinct concourses—hosts Air China, Star Alliance, and most Oneworld carriers. Terminals are linked by free shuttle buses, while T3 utilizes an internal automated people mover.
01 Terminals & concourses
Opened in 1999, Terminal 2 serves SkyTeam members (excluding China Airlines), Hainan Airlines, and select domestic and international carriers. It includes the Westwing Satellite Terminal, formerly known as Terminal 1.
Designed for the 2008 Summer Olympics, Terminal 3 features red imperial-inspired roofs, natural daylighting, and three distinct sub-concourses. It serves Air China, Star Alliance, most Oneworld carriers, and China Airlines.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at PEK
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from PEK
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Rail | Capital Airport Express rail link connects T3 and T2 to city stations including Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen, and Beixinqiao. |
| Bus | 18 urban bus routes connect the terminals to city points such as Xidan and Beijing Railway Station, alongside intercity routes. |
| Automated People Mover | A 2 km Bombardier Innovia APM connects T3C, T3D, and T3E concourses inside Terminal 3. |
| Road | Four express tollways (including Airport Expressway and 2nd Airport Expressway) directly link the terminals to Beijing's ring roads. |
